UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT YOUTH HORTICULTURE PROJECT

The Youth Horticulture Project (YHP), a program of the University of Vermont Extension, was established in 2001. The program’s mission is to build the life and job skills of at-risk youth through growing, marketing and donating vegetables. Young people in the program develop the vital skills of communication, teamwork, responsibility and problem-solving while discovering where their food comes from. They develop healthy lifestyle behaviors including engaging in physical activity through gardening and healthy eating. In the process, a productive community of youth and adults is created with a focus on growing and providing food to those in need and educating the community on the value of a regional food system.

In its first six years, YHP has worked with over 2,000 youth, raised over $7,500 through various enterprises, and has grown over 28,000 pounds of produce. Out of those 28,000 pounds, the youth have donated over 16,000 pounds to local hunger relief programs and schools.

Current programs:

YHP’s flagship program is called “Summer Work and Learn,” a project that employs local teens at our educational farm in Brattleboro, Vermont. While they are enrolled in the “Summer Work and Learn” program, youth learn to work as a team to produce an organically grown crop, harvest it, and sell it at the local farmers’ market. The goal of the project is to engage youth in productive agricultural work while building important job and life skills.

“4-H Growing Connections.” A hands-on garden-enhanced nutrition education program that trains over 80 educators across the state of Vermont each year to implement the program in their communities. Through 4-H Growing Connections, youth learn to garden, eat what they grow, discover fresh food, make healthier food choices, and learn about food safety.

Academic-year programming in gardening and enviromental education. In 2007, we partnered with the Austine School for the Deaf, the Brattleboro Area Middle School, and the Greenwood School on educational programs that combined lessons on our farm and in the classroom.

Alumni Program. In 2007, we piloted a program for teens who had previously taken part in the “Summer Work and Learn” program and wished to return. The program built on the skills gained previously by incorporating a greater level of community outreach and service to those in need.

In 2007, across all of our programs, YHP worked with 600 youth, raised over $1,500 through various youth-run enterprises, and grew and harvested over 3,300 pounds of produce. Out of that total, the youth donated over 2,800 pounds to local hunger relief programs.

For more information on the Youth Horticulture Project, please contact Sara Porth, Youth Horticulture Coordinator at 802-257-7967 ext. 18, or sara.porth@uvm.edu.

01-09-08